FAIRBANKS, ALASKA – In their 2016-17 season opener, Academy of Art pushed hard for a second-half comeback.  Ultimately however, they were unable to overcome the Nanooks of Alaska, falling 93-69.
 
After four unanswered points to start the first quarter for UAF, junior guard Jazzlyn Brewster scored the Urban Knights' first points of the season, landing a three from beyond the arc. With the score now 4-3, ART U would reach within one point of the Nanooks three more times in the period, but trailed 21-16 heading in the second.
 
After falling behind by no more than five points in the opening quarter, the Nanooks pushed their lead to eight, less than two minutes into the second period, and later to 13 when only 30 seconds remained in the half. However, after a made free throw from senior forward Pre'Franz Dominick, ART U headed to the locker toom, trailing, 44-32.
 
After the break, the Urban Knights hit the floor with a renewed sense of energy. In fact, after a minute had expired in the third, they went on to dominate the next 4:30 with an 11-0 run. Senior guard Alana Simon highlighted the time, scoring six points to put the Knights within four (48-44). ART U trimmed the deficit to just two points with 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, but it was then that Alaska regained control of the contest. The Nanooks went on a 14-0 run that stretched into the fourth quarter and they did not look back.
 
Overall, nine players made their Urban Knights debut on Friday night, including Simon and junior guard Rodericka Ware who led the team with 14 points apiece. Simon was 1-for-1 from three-point range and shot .461 from the field (6-for-13). Both Ware and Brewster put in the most time for ART U, each totaling 32 minutes. Academy of Art also led both sides with 22 forced turnovers which led to 21 points.
 
The Urban Knights will fly to Anchorage on Saturday to take on the Seawolves, the No. 1-ranked team in the West Region. This will not be the first run-in that ART U has had with Anchorage however. The Knights also played the Seawolves during their non-conference schedule in 2015 and were edged by just five points, 87-82 to the eventual national champion runner-ups. The rematch between the two teams is set for 5:00 p.m. AST.